11/06/2025
Ingredients and Supplies
This recipe yeilds approximately 40 ounces of elderberry syrup.
4 cups of dried organic elderberries OR 8 cup fresh, ripe organic elderberries (or frozen berries). We usually use these organic dried elderberries. One bag is plenty to make this recipe.
Honey, 16 to 24 ounces. Honey is best for immunity though you could substitute with agave or maple syrup to make vegan elderberry syrup.
2 tablespoons of grated raw fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder OR 2 whole cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon cloves (whole or ground)
Optional: 2 to 3 whole star anise
Optional: a splash of whiskey, vodka, or other alcohol (to help extend the shelf life)
Water
Cheese cloth or a nut milk bag to strain the berries
Air-tight glass storage containers for the finished elderberry syrup, such as 8 oz swing top bottles, 16 oz glass bottles, or mason jars.
Another option is to get a convenient all-in-one DIY elderberry syrup kit like this one from TC Elderberry. It includes organic dry elderberries, cinnamon sticks, and other spices. All you have to do is brew it with water and add honey. Their “kicked up” version also has echinacea, rosehips and aronia berries for an added boost! They also offer finished syrup – made fresh to order. Use code “deannacat” to save 15% at TC Elderberry.
A jar of Elderberry syrup, elderberry herbal extract, and a DIY bag of dried elderberry syrup ingredients from TC Elderberry are on display..
When we don’t have time to make our own, we get our elderberry syrup from my friend Sarah at TC Elderberry. The DIY kit also makes an awesome gift!
Step 1: Combine Elderberries and Water
Using dried berries: In a large pot or saucepan, combine 4 cups dried elderberries with 8 cups of water. Note the height of liquid in the pan.
Using fresh berries (or frozen): If you’re fortunate enough to have fresh elderberries available, use 8 cups of berries and just 1 cup of water. The natural juice in the berries will make up for the little amount of water added! Wash them and remove all the stems first. If you’re using frozen elderberries, there is no need to defrost them first.
A metal cooking pot is almost all the way full of dried berries and water. A finger is held along the edge of the inside of the pot to note the height the mixture reaches on the pot.
Using dried berries, and taking note of how full the pot is at the start.
Step 2: Add Spices
Turn the stove on a medium-low heat, enough to simmer the mixture but not boil. Once the mixture has begun to heat up, stir in:
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder OR 2 whole cinnamon sticks
½ teaspoon of whole cloves (or 1/2 tsp powder)
2 heaping tablespoons of freshly grated raw ginger
Optional: 2-3 whole star anise
A teaspoon measurement of whole cloves is held above a pot of dried berries and water.
Step 3: Simmer and Reduce
Dried elderberry variation: Continue to simmer until the liquid has reduced to about half of the original volume. This could take only 30 minutes, or up to an hour or two, depending on how vigorous a simmer you set your stove to. We usually opt for slow-and-steady. As the berries soften and the water reduces, the elderberry juice becomes increasingly concentrated.
While simmering, leave the pot uncovered so steam can evaporate. Also stir the mixture on occasion. I use a large flat wood spoon to press the elderberries against the side of the pot as I stir. (Or you can use a potato masher if you have one.) This helps to squeeze out all the good juices we’re after!
Fresh elderberry variation: Simmer the berries and water for at least 30 minutes, until they’re soft and release their juices. Press and stir on occasion. Next, strain out the skins and pulp (as shown below) and return the elderberry juice to the pan. Continue to simmer until the original amount is reduced by about one-half.
A metal pot with simmering dried berries and water that has reduced by a half from the original volume.
Reduced by half!
Step 4: Strain
Once the liquid reduces to about half of the original volume, it is time to squeeze and strain! (If you haven’t already done that with your fresh berries in Step 3, that is.) Allow the elderberry mixture to cool slightly before proceeding, but not completely. You don’t want to burn yourself, but also want to keep the liquid warm to help dissolve the honey later.
To strain the elderberries, we set a fine-mesh stainless steel strainer lined with either a nut milk bag or cheesecloth, set on top of a glass mixing bowl. We like this organic cotton unbleached cheesecloth.
Gently pour some of the mixture into the strainer. I found it best to add a little at time, pressing the berries down into the strainer and cheese cloth with a wooden spoon as we went. This helped to extract as much of the precious juice as possible. Add some, smush and mash, add some, smush and mash. Continue this until all you have left in the strainer is fairly dry berry pulp, with a nice bowl of elderberry juice below.
Next, carefully lift and close up the sides of the cheesecloth, forming a nice little sack of berries. Then squeeze the heck of out it! This will dye your hands purple for a day or two, so wear gloves if you want to avoid that.
A metal pot of reduced dried berries and water is being poured into a strainer lined with cheesecloth.
A wooden spoon is being used to push down on the berry and water pulp inside of a strainer that is lined with cheesecloth.
A cheesecloth ball of berries is held above a strainer and glass bowl as its liquid drips into the bowl.
Two hands are squeezing a cheesecloth ball full of cooked berries. Purple juice is running down the hands as it is strained through a mesh strainer into a glass bowl.
FAQ: What should I do with leftover elderberries after making syrup?
You can compost the leftover berry pulp, or steep it in water to create a dilute elderberry tea. If you have a food dehydrator, you can dry the leftover elderberries to save for future loose-leaf tea or to use in fire cider. They’ll be slightly “spent”, but should have some good stuff left inside too!
Two dehydrator trays are full of elderberry pulp.
Re-drying the spent elderberries in our dehydrator. Dry on a low setting until they’re completely crunchy dry, and then store in an air tight container! We use the leftover dry berries with loose leaf tea.
Step 5: Measure
Pour the strained, concentrated elderberry juice into a measuring cup and take note of its volume or amount (e.g. 3 cups). Now add the juice back into your pot, but do not turn the heat back on.
A four cup liquid measuring cup is full to the three cup line with elderberry juice. A jar of honey sits next to it to eventually make elderberry syrup.
Step 6: Add Honey
Now it is time to turn your elderberry juice into syrup with the addition of honey!
Most elderberry syrup recipes say to add an equal amounts of honey to concentrated elderberry juice. For instance, 3 cups of juice and 3 cups of honey. Honey offers key healing properties of its own and acts as a preservative for the syrup.
The juice is likely still a bit warm, hopefully enough to whisk in the honey without needing to heat anything further. Avoid directly heating the honey, which can destroy its beneficial properties. If your honey is extra cold, set the sealed jar of honey in a bowl of warm water to help gently warm it up.
Since I’m Type 1 diabetic, we sometimes only use about ¾ the amount of honey – such as 16 ounces of honey to 24 ounces of elderberry juice. That’s plenty to preserve it, though we try to use it up faster than recommended just in case. (Storage and shelf life notes to follow.)
To extend the shelf life of homemade elderberry syrup, you can also add a splash of liquor like vodka, whiskey, or brandy as an extra preservative. One-third to half a cup of liquor for this size batch of elderberry syrup will do the job just fine.
A jar of honey is held upside down to get every last bit of honey into the elderberry syrup inside of a metal pot with a whisk.
Step 7: Bottle
Finally, transfer your delicious homemade elderberry syrup into final storage containers such as mason jars, glass swing-top bottles, or these rad swing-top flasks. Store in the refrigerator.
Storage
How long is homemade elderberry syrup good for?
When made with the full honey-to-juice ratio, elderberry syrup should stay good for at least three months in the refrigerator. The addition of alcohol will help prolong the shelf life further too. As long as it doesn’t develop mold, off flavors or odors, it is likely still good and safe to consume even after 3 months.
Two full swing-top bottles of dark, inky, nearly black homemade elderberry syrup. In the foreground lays a hand of ginger and randomly spilled dried elderberries around the base of the bottles.
How to Take Elderberry Syrup
You can take one teaspoon of elderberry syrup up to three times per day. We generally consume one teaspoon per day as a preventative measure, such as during cold and flu season or when something is going around our workplace. If we feel crud coming on or are actually sick, we increase our dose to 2 or 3 times per day.
Elderberry works to inhibit viral replication, so it is best to take it as the very first symptoms of illness appear, or soon after you’re around someone who is sick.
You can also use your elderberry syrup to make homemade elderberry gummies!
Homemade elderberry syrup gummies in the shapes of bears and worms are spread out on a wooden board. Dried elderberries and cinnamon sticks garnish the surrounding area.
Bottoms up! I hope you found this guide to be helpful. If so, please leave a review below. Also feel free to ask any questions. Thank you so much for tuning in. Cheers to staying healthy, naturally.
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Two small glass flip-top bottles full of dark purple-black elderberry syrup, sitting on a wood table with baskets of fresh elderberries in the background and on the table.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup (Dried or Fresh Berries)
Support you immune system, fight colds and viruses, and stay healthy with this easy homemade elderberry syrup recipe – using dried, frozen or fresh elderberries.
4.86 from 63 votes
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time
10minutes mins
Cook Time
1hour hr
Straining & Bottling Time
10minutes mins
Course
Natural Medicine Beverage
Servings
40 ounces
Ingredients
1x
2x
3x
4 cups dried organic elderberries OR 8 cups of fresh elderberries or frozen
2 tbsp freshly grated raw ginger OR 1 tsp powder
1 tsp cinnamon OR 2 whole cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp cloves ground or whole
8 cups water OR only 1 cup, if you're using fresh elderberries
16-24 ounces honey
Instructions
Add 8 cups of water and 4 cups of dried elderberries (or 8 cups fresh berries and 1 cup water) to a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat.
Once simmering, add cinnamon, clove, and grated ginger and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until the liquid is reduced by half.
Once reduced by half the original volume, allow the elderberry mixture to cool slightly.
Using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth perched over a bowl, strain the mixture, using a spoon (and hands) to press the berries to extract as much juice as possible.
Add the extracted elderberry juice back into the saucepan with the called-for honey, using a whisk to thoroughly combine. If needed, created a warm water bath to lightly heat and soften honey, but avoid microwaving or boiling honey!
Pour the elderberry syrup into jars or bottles, and refrigerate. Without liquor, it should stay fresh for about 3 months. It is safe to use until mold develops!
Keyword
Elderberry Syrup
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164 Comments
Carla
October 8, 2025 at 2:46 pmReply
5 stars
I’ve made this twice now, and it’s worked perfectly. Thank you for sharing!
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
October 9, 2025 at 7:10 amReply
Hi Carla, we are so glad you enjoy the elderberry syrup and thanks for sharing!
mel
November 5, 2025 at 1:19 pmReply
5 stars
how much does this make in finished product please so i know what the bottle choice i should use.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
November 5, 2025 at 1:33 pmReply
Hi Mel, the recipe yields roughly 40 ounces of finished elderberry syrup.
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4.86 from 63 votes (28 ratings without comment)
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Hey! I'm Deanna, aka . My goal is to help inspire others to lead more healthy, sustainable lives by sharing tips to make gardening and homesteading easy and enjoyable ~ so you can learn and grow along! Read more...
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